Monthly Archives: February 2011

There’s a day for everything, including February 25th which is National Clam Chowder Day. So, here at Vander Bar, we got thinking. We do chowder and we do it well, so we want to know, what’s YOUR favorite?

Next week from February 21-25, we’ll be asking our guests which of our chowder is best, our New England or Manhattan. We tend to lean towards Manhattan, because, well, the obvious. Join us for lunch or an after work munchie and try our delicious chowders.

One of the most eclectic neighborhoods in NYC has to be the streets of Chinatown. Located in downtown Manhattan (hop off the subway at Canal Street), this area is rich with food, shopping and entertainment and is home to one of the densest populations of Chinese immigrants in the Western Hemisphere.

You can spend an entire day wandering the streets and soaking in the culture and eating dim sum until you simply cant anymore. Here are some of my top picks for your exploration.

EATS

Jing Fong20 Elizabeth StreetCome here for the bustling Hong Kong style dim sum carts. This large banquet hall offers some of the best dim sum in the city. Bring your ticket up to the dim sum carts that interest you if you feel like you’re missing out on the good stuff that’s circulating around.

New Green Bo66 Bayard StThis may possibly be the best Shanghai-style restaurant in town. The soup dumplings and vegetarian duck are delicious, and hearty food like casseroles topped with an egg crêpe filled with tiny shrimp, braised pork shoulder, or giant “lion’s head” meatballs are excellent winter meals. But the fried dumplings? Those are the stars of the show. Order them crispy, you will not be disappointed.

Great N.Y. Noodletown28 BoweryIf you’ve been out all night (perhaps taking on some karaoke) stop here for some late night munchies. Perfect for a hot bowl of noodles with roast duck after a night of bar-hopping.

TREATS
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory65 Bayard StreetFamously known throughout the city, this is a must stop for anyone with a sweet tooth. Try the Lychee flavor (my personal fav) or get one of the delicious sorbets!

May’s Bakery90 E. BroadwayYou wont find a Starbucks in this neighborhood, but if you’re looking for dessert through a straw, stop here for their watermelon with tapioca bubble tea. Bonus? They’re only about $2-$3.

TOURISTChatham SquareThis traditional Chinatown gate was dedicated in 1962 “in memory of the Americans of Chinese descent who lost their lives in defense of freedom and democracy.” The stout, Leninesque statue is Lin Ze Xu, a nineteenth-century anti-narcotics crusader and hero of the Opium Wars.

Museum of Chinese in the Americas70 Mulberry StreetThe Museum of Chinese in the Americas (MoCA) is the first full-time professionally staffed museum dedicated to reclaiming, preserving, and interpreting the history and culture of Chinese and their descendants in the Western Hemisphere. Swing by on Thursdays, when the museum stays open late and admission is free.

Mahayana Buddhist Temple133 Canal St.The temple is free and open to the public, and offers a large meditation area with plenty of space to rest and reflect under a 16-foot-high golden Buddha. While the giant Buddha is the temple’s main attraction, don’t miss the series of intricate ivory carvings on display in the second-floor shop.

ENTERTAINMENT

Galaxy 4545 Mott StDon’t be intimidated by the dark, underground location and karaoke diehards there to sing high-pitched Chinese pop. This is a chance for a true Lost in Translation experience. To avoid long waits at peak hours (around midnight), reserve one of Galaxy’s glowing karaoke rooms. Room charge: $50 an hour Fridays and Saturdays nights.

SHOPPING“Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Coach?” Chinatown is known for its street vendors selling items (knock off’s) of designer handbags, sunglasses, jewelry and perfumes. First sign of law enforcement and these guys are off. But the deals are great and items, well, as close to a Chanel that some of us will ever get.

Pearl River Mart477 BroadwayWith 30,000 square feet of space, there’s more to buy than you can possibly imagine: soy sauce, teapots, medicinal herbs, underwear, musical instruments, embroidered silks by the yard, Chinese checkers sets, pencils, Buddha statues. A true cultural shopping experience. Be sure to head up to the third floor, where you’ll find the largest gallery of Oriental furniture in Chinatown.

Ten Ren75 Mott St.Ten Ren is the largest tea company in Taiwan and this Chinatown outpost features a broad range of indigenously grown loose-leaf teas, like King’s Tea, a blend of oolong and ginseng, and its seasonal Spring Tea, a light, floral green oolong harvested in limited quantities. With five grades of jasmine tea alone to choose from, the selection here can be overwhelming, so let the staff guide you. Call ahead to schedule a traditional tea ceremony for up to 10 guests and enjoy a sampling of two teas of your choice, as well as information on the tea’s origins and proper brewing techniques.

Need help finding your way around? Here’s a map to get help you get to where you need to go!

I would like to share with you exciting news that The Roosevelt Hotel has recently unveiled a new program to refresh each of our 1,015 guestrooms and suites. Each guestroom will feature all new furniture and fixtures, in addition to all new carpeting in guestrooms and guest floor corridors. Most noticeable will be an elegant red accent wall in each room and new artwork showcasing historic images of The Roosevelt Hotel. The hotel’s upgrades are already underway and will proceed through early 2012.

It is important to note that no major demolition is taking place since the work consists primarily of new wallpaper, carpeting , furniture and fixture replacements. All of these tasks are relatively quiet and simple ensuring that the Roosevelt’s signature level of quality and comfort is not compromised. The process will be efficient and out-of-sight as work will only take place on floors which are closed off to guests.

We are very excited about these new additions and look forward to providing you with an even greater level of excellence at The Roosevelt Hotel.

Yes, yes folks. It’s time for the Superbowl. Join us at the Madison Club Lounge on February 6th to watch the big game and enjoy amazing specials from the bar and a menu specially created by Chef Rupert for the event. Are you ready?